Can't Meet You At Max's :: Retail Therapy 4/26/2024
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Special Screening Alert! Honoring Mental Health Month
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Beacon Police Release More Information On Man Arrested Who Threatened To Shoot Someone On Main Street
/A Little Beacon Blog has asked the Beacon Police Department for more information on the man who was arrested last Sunday morning, who was taken down in a trained Use of Force response after the police had received the call that he had threatened to shoot people on Main Street. According to the Beacon Police, the man resisted arrest by not putting his hands on the wall when ordered to, and then put his arm in front of his body, which was captured on video here.
The Beacon Police have updated their statement issued via Press Release with the following statement below. ALBB is awaiting confirmation on if the man frequents Beacon and lives in the area, or if he was never seen before, and here for a random day. Some in the Beacon community have told ALBB that they are familiar with this man and his unbalanced behavior, but Beacon Police may be able to confirm.
ALBB has issued a Letter From The Editor about the state of Mental Health in Beacon, particularly with those who tend to live or be outside a lot as community members who can act out in different ways that can sometimes threaten people.
Statement from the Beacon Police Department:
“As noted in our April 21, 2024 press release, that day department members responded to a call for a man threatening to shoot people on Main St. Investigation revealed that the incident started when a couple walking on Main St. asked the man not to touch their dog. The suspect then became enraged, threatening to assault and shoot the dog owner and frightening people in the area. An uninvolved witness, who was very concerned by this behavior occurring in front of his children, then called the police who located the suspect, as previously described. One of the people threatened also called and reported the incident a short time later. The suspect was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest. He was also transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
“A use of force investigation was conducted that included interviews with the suspect, civilian witnesses and officers as well as reviews of recorded phone calls, body-worn camera footage and footage provided by a civilian witness. It was found that due to the suspect’s threats to shoot people, it was necessary for officers to detain him immediately. Further, due to his actions in initially refusing an officer’s orders, his pulling his hand in front of his body and out of sight when an officer attempted to handcuff him and his resistance to handcuffing once on the ground, that the officers on scene used force consistent with department standards and with best practices. Due to involuntary psychiatric evaluation, the suspect’s name will not be released by the Beacon PD.”
Max's On Main Closes - An Ode To Richie - Pictures XX XY XOXO
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Richie. Harvey. Max’s on Main.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
When the news came out that Richie was selling the building, the sidewalks shifted underneath our feet. It was like that earthquake rumble a couple weeks ago. How could Max’s on Main not be in the red brick building anymore? How could Richie and Harvey not be out there pulling in customers? Observing the people walking by? Making bad jokes to hang in their bathroom and write on the sidewalk sign? Shaking their heads at the drivers from New Jersey making U-turns wherever they wanted?
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
When the building didn’t sell immediately - it was rumored by be listed for $2 million - it is safe to say that many hoped they would just keep trying to sell it at this number, and not get any takers. But then one day while getting copies made at Accuprint, which is a neighbor of Max’s, the owner Byrdie let me know that the last day for Max’s was April 21, 2024, according to anonymous sources she had. They had sold the building and it was over.
A news article said that Richie wanted to babysit his grandchildren. I texted him to say that I understood his decision. Babysitting pays well. I often get jealous of the cash I hand out to babysitters for watching my own kids, and often think that I should be a babysitter. As an unpaid mother and barely paid blogger, things can get tight.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
But didn’t Richie realize that he was acting out of line? He wasn’t supposed to actually sell the building. He was supposed to list it for his dream price, hope for a buyer, and continue serving at Max’s. The building was supposed to be listed forever.
Richie is a gregarious but private person. I never knew where he stood on articles. He might oblige me with information, but never a quote. “I don’t want to upset the apple cart,” he would say. If I had published a tough article on any topic, and I was struggling inside but didn’t tell anyone, Richie knew. He always reached out for a sidewalk chat. Made a bad joke. And closed with: “Keep up the good work.”
When his brother Harvey died suddenly, Richie did not want an article about it. People were already coming in and out of the restaurant, handing him cards, ordering food, hugging him. He didn’t know what to do with so much emotion.
Richie and Harvey.
Photo Credit: Ed Mendoza
When the Parade of Green rolled around in March, one of his most favorite times, he attended a City Council meeting. As he often does when he wants to speak his mind on a topic. Like he did for when Mayor Kyriacou wanted to zone several buildings on Main Street to be historic. Doing so can make a building harder to sell, because fixing it needs to follow different standards than a regular renovation. The City zoned it over his and Harvey’s objections, yet Richie carried on.
At this City Council Meeting in March 2024, he said he was there to invite everyone to Max’s after the Parade of Green. But that night happened to be a Ceasefire Resolution night, and the courtroom was packed. There happened to be a seat next to me open in the second row. I was sitting in the Anti-Ceasefire section, but I was Pro-Ceasefire. However, I always sit in that seat, next to a power outlet. So I was feeling a little nervous.
Richie is in the orange coat next to Katie at the Ceasefire Resolution meeting. He said he was there to invite everyone to Max’s after the Parade of Green. He missed his chance to sign up on the sheet and never got to speak, but did listen.
Photo Credit: Alexa B. Wilkinson
Unexpectedly, Richie approached the second row. “Oh!” he said. “She saved a seat for me! Isn’t she nice.” Head-in-hand-emoji. That night, I was wearing my blue PRESS sweatshirt. For those who don’t know, the PRESS sweatshirt from Wear the Peace is symbolic of the Palestinian journalists who have been reporting day after day on the atrocities and murders going on in Palestine. Most of those journalists are dead now. They have been targeted and killed by Israeli IDF forces.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
I don’t think Richie knew what the sweatshirt meant, so he “pressed” it. Classic Richie. Being used to this behavior, I told him to graduate from college, and promptly elbowed him in the ribs. Later, when it was my turn to speak, my speech went over the 3 minute mark. But I had a poem I wanted to make sure I delivered, so I kept talking. Mayor Kyriacou graveled me a couple times, and then told me to be done, but I didn’t stop until my poem was done. The Mayor then told the audience that I was “The Rudest Person Yet” as I was walking back to my seat, fumbling over the other people in the second row bench.
I sat down and got my phone out to continue filming the other speakers, and to calm down and stop shaking. Richie turned to me to ask if I was alright. He was shocked. I was shocked. I didn’t answer. I just focused on the speakers. He asked me again if I was alright, and asked again. He wouldn’t stop asking until I answered and gave him a smile. He said “Ok,” and continued listening to the speakers. He never did get to speak that night.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
The apartments above Max’s on Main are low income apartments. We don’t know what will happen to those residents. We know what happened to the residents above Joe’s Irish Pub on the other end of Main Street. When that building sold, it was connected to a real estate agent who branded herself as “socially just” in real estate. At least one tenant, the older gentleman named Don who is disabled and nearly deaf, was evicted, despite the good fight he put up with legal assistance. Good Cause Eviction could not save him. Another gentleman Joe, who worked in the kitchen at Max’s, also lived in that building and was being evicted. Both men were paying their rent. But the new landlords wanted higher rent. ALBB has been following their stories for over a year, and will publish on them, knowing that other publications have covered them already.
Everyone is very sad that Max’s on Main has closed. The rumors swirl about a new steakhouse that might replace it. Employees are keeping their ears open to see if any local employment opens up when the new team moves in. We at ALBB wish Richie and his family the very best. And wish Harvey the best because he should have been here. They deserve all of their success and to enjoy retirement.
Photo Credits: Katie Hellmuth, A Little Beacon Blog
The shades are down at Max’s on Main.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
Letter From The Editor: Regarding The Article On The Police Use Of Force Arrest On Gun Call
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Ah ha. Here we go. Flipping this Letter To The Editor around to be Letter From The Editor.
Last Sunday, we published the article “Arrest Made On Main Street Evaluated For Use Of Force - Video Footage With Audio.” Some people on Facebook had some feelings about the article. Some people felt that the headline should have praised the Beacon Police Department for successfully completing a training drill in real life. Where the police were called about a man threatening people with a gun, swiftly getting to the scene, down the street a bit because the man had walked a few blocks by then, and then took him down without incident, to get him into the car to be taken to the station. Charges were pending. We never learned what the charges were, or his identity.
I emailed Lt. Figlia to ask if they were going to release the identity, and he never responded. Before that email, he did, however, call me kindly asking me for my video footage of the arrest, so that they could use it in their self-evaluation of the arrest that involved Use of Force. He also emailed me back saying he received the video. Maybe he didn’t get my email asking him if the Beacon PD were going to release the identity of the man arrested.
[UPDATE! Lt. Figlia responded yesterday afternoon at 4:45pm but the email came in at 10pm because cyberspace and Mercury in Retrograde not being over yet). He said information will be forthcoming.]
[UPDATE 4/26/2024: The Beacon Police Department has issued an update of what led to the circumstance of this arrest. Click here to read it.]
Years ago, after ALBB published an article about implied racism in the Highway Department when they hired their first HR director who resigned after a year, City Administrator Chris White instructed all department heads and employees not to answer any questions from me at A Little Beacon Blog. Yet he would talk to me as Spirit of Beacon Chair. Which I have since stepped down from. Partly for this reason. Too frustrating to change hats and be disrespected like that. They are selective about what questions from me they will answer. My faith is in you, Citizen Reporters, to get information as we all search for public documents.
Some people felt that the arrest article was bashing the police. The article was what it was. It provided video of an arrest made where Use of Force was used. How do we know that? Because one of the four officers who was involved in the physical encounter came over and told those of us who witnessed it in real life, as he wanted to interview us about what we thought about the Use of Force. Why did he want to know what we thought? Because it is standard procedure for the Beacon Police, he said, for them to evaluate themselves and hold themselves “accountable,” which was his word choice. Seemed a perfectly respectable thing to seek.
Learned something new about policing on a Sunday morning at 9:30am! But, some people on Facebook also had a problem with us describing the surroundings of a Sunday morning in Beacon. Some people made ominous threats or ill-wishes, like “I hope you never need the police to help you!” or “This is a pot you never should have stirred!” So. You shall have this explainer Letter From The Editor on why this was our angle, rather than republishing a press release and stating only a press release. For this situation, we happened to have been right there to see the arrest in real life.
I also want to state that Beacon has a community of mentally delicate people walking around on these streets each morning, for those of us who are out early, as I am. There is a community of people who live in unusual places, like the woods, or boarding houses, or a bench, or a curb. They get their coffee, or a beer, and begin their day. Some have been here for years, some drift in and and become members of the community.
But sometimes, they act out of the norm. Sometimes they yell curse words. Or claim they are billionaires. Or are rude when you don’t want to or don’t have change to give them. If one of these people threatened to shoot people, a tourist or a person not familiar with these members of the community might be frightened, and call the police. A citizen of Beacon might get really irritated, and call the police knowing what might happen to them. A person who makes threats of shooting people will get a rifle to the head, and their head pressed into the ground until handcuffs are on.
In the aftermath of the article, more than one person alluded that the man might be a certain one of these individuals, and several used the word “psycho” to describe the man. One of the arresting officers said that the person should be “going to the psych ward.” While the officer said he’d never seen the man before, a reader of A Little Beacon Blog, Jim Naruta, commented that he had, stating: “This guy threatened to stab and shoot me and others on Main last week. We dismissed it as some guy off his meds.”
In a time when Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White denied NAMI Mid Hudson the privilege of hanging their Mental Health Awareness ribbons last year and again this year because he was preserving the cleanliness of the lamp posts that he had City of Beacon employees clean in a multi-year cleaning campaign, it appears awareness of mental health issues and how to treat them will continue to be stigmatized.
Here’s what I originally published on Facebook in response to the article upset:
“One last thing about this Police article, and then we're moving on to the next articles. Reporting on small city/town news (Beacon is a city but has "small-town" feels) when you live in the place is very difficult. As is being a Police officer who has to police their neighbors sometimes. While out at events, ALBB has been approached by the public to do more stories on issues that deal with injustices to anyone. Death. Police issues. Unpleasantries. Not because they are unpleasant, but because they are real. Usually here at Facebook, people sometimes say: "Oh, that's bad for tourism!! That's why it doesn't make the news! They don't want people to know!" And that's not the case here at ALBB at least. Sometimes it's uncomfortable. Sometimes it takes days or weeks or months to get all of the information. Sometimes we just have client work we need to complete. In terms of my (Katie's) personal needs from the Police. Yes, I was there 2x this month to deal with harassment letters being sent about me and my business. Because of our coverage of other global events. The officers I spoke with were as helpful as they could be with me - within their power or jurisdiction. It is understandable you will not like a headline. Or a description of a Sunday morning. But these things are as they are. Clearly, the Police demonstrated several things:
1. They are well trained.
2. They need some new body cameras. Sometimes items in their budget are disputed by City Council. This would be an example of why new body cameras are a line item.
3. They value holding themselves accountable. That should be seen as a commendable thing. The event itself triggered its own process that they followed. Also, there is no AI at ALBB. LOL. We much prefer torturing ourselves writing. And enduring your Grammar Violation Finds, as we like to see if you're actually reading. Glad that you are. See you in the next article.”
Arrest Made on Main Street Evaluated For Use Of Force - Video Footage With Audio
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UPDATE 4/26/2024: The Beacon Police Department has issued an update of what led to the circumstance of this arrest. Click here to read it.
At 9:15am on a quiet Sunday morning in Beacon, an arrest was made by Beacon Police that is currently being evaluated for its Use of Force. The video of that arrest, taken by A Little Beacon Blog, is at the end of this article. Scroll down.
Usually on a Sunday morning at that time, Beacon is just waking up. The streets are still nearly empty of pedestrians. The outdoor Beacon Farmer’s Market in the DMV parking lot has not completely set up yet, but the Beacon Flea Market behind the Post Office is up and running. Coffee shops are open, Mr. V’s Deli is serving breakfast sandwiches, Peaceful Provisions doughnuts has their line out the door before they sell out. Otherwise, that’s it. Most people and businesses are setting up for what will become a bustling weekend day in Beacon.
A Little Beacon Blog happened to be walking down the street with a friend at the time of the arrest. The first sound of shouting came from a Beacon Police Officer, who said: “Phone down! Phone down! Hands on the wall!” The sound was coming from the side of Finders Keepers, inside of the Beacon Car Wash driveway. The officer repeated, louder this time: “HANDS ON THE WALL!” He approached with a handgun drawn. A second officer walked up behind him, followed by a third officer who jogged to the scene. A fourth officer arrived with gloves on. No sirens were heard from the 4 police cars who arrived on the scene.
The officer shouted again: “On the ground. On the ground!”
The person who the officers approached, who was a white male wearing a gray sweatshirt and pants with gray sneakers with neon green soles, started shouting “Ow! Ow!” as he was taken to the ground by the 4 officers. The man shouted: “You took my glasses off! You ruined my glasses. And my pod. And my pod. And my pod. And my pod.”
Screenshot of the male suspect on the ground, putting his arm over his head, before the officer with the rifle came around and placed his own hand on the man to hold his head down.
The first officer came back with a rifle while the three other officers took the man down to the ground. The first officer came around with his rifle pointed down at the man, and then relaxed his rifle as he bent down near the man on the ground to brush away the items that came away from the man’s possession.
The man put an arm over his head, which was covered in a hoodie. The first officer knelt down and put his own hand near the man’s head to hold his head to the ground, applying pressure. The man continued yelling “Ow! Ow! Ow! Get off my head!” The officer with the rifle yelled “Stop resisting!”
The man said in a quieter voice, muffled: “I’m not resisting. I didn’t do anything.”
The first officer responded: “Stop resisting!” The man responded: “I’m not resisting. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do it. I’m not resisting.” Another officer took the man’s arm to try to bring it back behind the man.
“You’re hurting me. I didn’t do anything. You’re breaking my head! You’re breaking my head! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” Three officers worked to get the man’s arms into handcuffs. The first officer was leaning into the man by way of his arm on the lower area of the man’s head or neck area. The officer’s legs were supporting his own weight as it bore down into the man’s lower head area, while the officer balanced on his rifle, which was grounded into the sidewalk.
After the officers finished handcuffing him, the man said “Just arrest me,” as the officers spun the man over onto his stomach. The man continued: “I didn’t do anything. You broke my glasses. Get my pod. Alright?…I want my wallet, and that’s it.” An officer said something else, to which the man responded: “I have nothing.” The man continued shouting, then stated “You just beat the fuck out of me. I need my stuff.” The man and the officers continued to argue.
An officer said: “You were threatening to shoot people.” The man responded: “No I wasn’t. No I wasn’t.” The man then asked what was the big deal. “Because I’m white? What if I was Black? Let me up.” He asked for his stuff again, and said he was a white guy.
After the incident, Sergeant Sirrine crossed the street to let witnesses know that this incident was being considered for evaluation because Use of Force was used, and they wanted to hold themselves accountable. At that time, Sergeant Sirrine did not indicate which type of Use of Force. He fumbled with his body camera for a while to turn it on to record the interview, but the body cam would not turn on. He said he thought it might be because he himself went down when the man went down, and his body cam might have gotten bumped, but that it often is problematic. Eventually, the body cam responded and began recording.
Myself (Katie of A Little Beacon Blog), Joe from Max’s, and Brenda from BJ’s Restaurant were all interviewed about what we saw of the arrest. At first he asked if we were “the callers," as in the person or persons who called the police initially. We said we were not, but had been standing here.
We asked him what the reason was that the man was arrested. He answered that a call had come in that a man had a gun, that a call had been made near a doughnut shop. As he troubleshooted his body camera, a voice came over the radio: “Peaceful Provisions” the voice on the radio said.
Once Sergeant Sirrine got the body cam working, our interview began. Joe said that he felt the officer holding down the man’s head down seemed too much. Katie said she saw four officers throw down one man. Sergeant Sirrine corrected her to say that the man was not thrown, but taken down to the ground. Brenda said that she did not see the arrest, but did see the police cars drive past her shop without sirens on.
Katie asked if Sergeant Sirrine if he had recognized the man. The Sergeant said he did not. The Sergeant said that the man had been arrested, and that he might end up in a “psych ward.” The Sergeant said a gun did not appear to in the man’s possession, which is why he had been checking trash cans to see if the man threw it somewhere.
An hour later, A Little Beacon Blog inquired with the doughnut shops. Peaceful Provisions said they did not hear of anything, as were too busy inside to know of anything outside. This was a difficult question session because the apple fritters looked so good. A caller could have been anyone from outside.
Glazed Over was closed to the public at that hour, but an employee was in to set up tables and chairs outside. From the dizzying aroma of the freshly made doughnuts, the employee answered that they had not heard about anything, and that they had been there all morning.
The Beacon Police have since issued a Press Release about the incident, which stated that witnesses to the original incident confirmed the man “threatened people on Main Street with shooting.” The Press Release confirmed that a search of the area revealed no firearms.
Regarding the User of Force, the Press Release expanded: "As other officers arrived and attempted to place handcuffs on him, the body camera footage showed that the suspect pulled his arm away from them and in front of his body. Officers, still unsure if he was armed or not, forced the suspect to the ground. It appears at the time, that they then utilized technique called "body segmenting" to control the suspect. Body segmenting is a technique, which is taught in compliance with New York State's Municipal Police Training Council standards, in which officers use pressure on the hips, head and legs (depending on the number of officers available) in order to control a combative suspect's movement while simultaneously avoiding putting pressure on any areas that would impact the suspect's ability to breath. The suspect was then placed into handcuffs without further incident. He was transported to Beacon PD HQ where he was offered, and refused medical treatment."
The Press Release states that charges are still pending, and that an investigation is ongoing into his alleged actions and alleged motivations. The Press Release does not state specifically what the charges are.
The Press Release concludes that conducing a Use of Force investigation is standard procedure, and that further information will be released when available.
Monday's 4-22-24 City Council Workshop Meeting Agenda - What's On Deck
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This week’s City Council Workshop Meeting is now available on ALBB. This is the same agenda found on the City’s website, but ours includes future video of the meeting, and is in the all-you-need format at ALBB. This Workshop Meeting is open to the public to attend, but there is no Public Comment. Public does not speak during Workshop Meetings, only listens.
On the Agenda:
Overview of Real Property Tax Assessment Process
Proposed Agreement with the Beacon Sloop Club for Floating Docks (backing documents forthcoming)
Proposed Dedication of Sewer Infrastructure from Scenic Beacon Developments, LLC
Announcement of Next Meeting: May 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m
Interested in Sponsoring this Guide? Find more details here >
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Sant Hair Collective Presents: A Walk Down Main Fashion Show & Pop-Up East End Edition
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Beauty Guide Update! Welcome Mane Street Hair & Co To Beacon
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Beauty Guide Update!
Welcome Mane Street Hair to Main Street in Beacon! Mane Street is where you go to turn your hair dreams into reality. Genta created a "comfortable, inviting space where clients feel welcomed and stylists feel at home".
If you're a blondie, you'll want to know that Genta offers a "lived in" service to create the most beautiful, dimensional lived-in blonde.
Other services that are offered include "Bright and Blonde", "Reverse Balayage", "Pick Me Up", Gloss Refresh", and more!
Check out our Beauty Guide for all things Beauty on Main St! Including Mane Street Hair & Co.
Are You In The Linup? Business Sponsorship Opportunities On A Little Beacon Blog
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A Little Beacon Blog provides free listings of Things To Do to the community, but there are ways to elevate your business and personalize how ALBB’s audience is seeing and experiencing what your business offers. We do this in a unique way. Different than any magazine. More time consuming to produce than any magazine or newspaper does, but we do it because it works with our readers. Our job is to tell stories and build relationships. Here is how we do it, and how your business can partner up:
Shopping Guide
A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide is one of the biggest draws to this publication. Every store is listed in it for the best experience for our readers. Google rewarded A Little Beacon Blog with a #1 ranking for "boutique shopping beacon ny."
Designed to elevate your store from the rest, this advertising campaign is integrated with our Instagram. Show your storefront in the listing, share new arrivals and products, discounts and promos, upcoming events, and more! Get your business a permanent weekly feature in A Little Beacon Blog's Retail Therapy Newsletter sent on Fridays (see examples here), as well as weekly Instagram features. We do the work for you.
Restaurant Guide
This subscription package is designed specifically for restaurants to be found in the “Restaurant Guide” & more. A Little Beacon Blog’s Guides are strong on the Internet. When people are Googling, these Guides are what come up first, and is often how people discover their favorite restaurants. Let your restaurant or eatery stand out in this guide with your logo, a photo gallery of your mouth-watering eats, rotating specials, upcoming events, and more! Sponsoring this guide allows you to feature something special every week on our Instagram and be included in our weekly newsletter. Don’t worry if you don’t have the time to send us the special stuff, we can dig deep and do this all for you.
Beauty Guide
This Beauty Guide subscription package is designed for anything beauty located on Main Street in Beacon! From hair & nail salons to laser hair removal and makeup application. You name it! Feature your beauty salon, your favorite beauty products, beauty services, hours, events, specials, and more! This will all be featured weekly in our Instagram and in our weekly newsletter of 2,700 subscribers.
Kids Classes Guide
Kids Classes are popular in Beacon and the Hudson Valley. Especially during this time of year when parents are scrambling to find Summer Camps and Kids Programs for their kids. Our Kids Classes Guide as been developed with Beacon families in mind; it's for people who attend classes in town as well as anyone who drives to neighboring areas for popular programs. Advertising in this guide allows you do feature a storefront photo and/or logo, a photo gallery, event/class listings including days and times, newsletter weekend features & weekly Instagram features.
Want to share your Summer Camp Program in our Summer Camp Guide too? We can do both and offer a 25% discount on our Summer Camp Guide Pricing! A win-win.
Business Directory
Readers love A Little Beacon Blog for its comprehensive coverage and listings. Readers come here looking for the best resources, and your business needs to be one of those. Levels of sponsorship in the Business Directory include basic listings for a budget-friendly option, as well as more integrated options with our editorial and social media. Advertising and sponsorship is subscription based, and can be upgraded or downgraded at any time.
Some categories include Accounting, Catering, Event Spaces, Floral, Health & Wellness, Home Improvement, Photography, Real Estate and so much more! Best part about this…? If you don’t see a category that fits your business, we can create one just for you and your business!
The Business Directory includes businesses not only in Beacon but around the Hudson Valley area.
Branded Content
Our highest and most integrated form of marketing… Branded Content. This package is great for businesses, artists, or organizations who want to show and tell to our readers by using many photos to color the story that we will write for you.
Branded Content includes 1 Article designed specifically for you, an extensive Instagram + Facebook feature, and a special newsletter featuring YOU to our 2,700 subscribers. Up to 5 photos are included. Our photographer can come to your place of business if in Beacon to take photos. Or, we can use photos you already have. However, if we feel that the photos are not adequate, we will want to send out our photographer, which may involve an additional fee if outside of Beacon.
93.1 FM Trova y Mas Interviews ALBB About Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Shutdown For Economic Blockade
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Thank you to the Trova & Mas Show and Carolina on 91.3FM, Independent Radio at Vassar College, for having us on to talk about the shutdown of the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge on April 15, Tax Day for the Economic Blockade from 8-9am organized nationwide to send a message to federal and local governments to Free Palestine and to stop investing in (aka divest from) Israel’s killing of so many Palestinians (which is bleeding into Lebanon). ALBB did not organize that and didn’t even know about it! But we did report on it.
Co-host Caroline asked what points we wanted to cover, and some of these points were made:
- Participating protesters on the bridge included Palestinians, Jews, Arabs, Non-Arabs, Muslims, Non-Muslims, Whites, and other allies.
- Protests in have been held on sidewalks in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Kingston.
- Pat Ryan was demonstrated against in Beacon at the City Council Swearing In Ceremony at the Memorial Building by demonstrators who wanted a silent protest with a banner that said Ceasefire, but Beacon’s City Administrator and some managing Veterans blocked the banner and physically touched the demonstrators, causing the event to escalate and get loud.
- The first demonstration to Pat Ryan was at his Poughkeepsie office near Vassar College.
- Some Beacon Jewish citizens organized their 8th night of Chanukah lighting at his Newburgh office.
- Ceasefire Resolutions were passed in Beacon and Newburgh. A ceasefire resolution still needs to pass in Poughkeepsie. Poughkeepsie needs to show up!
- A woman from Poughkeepsie is from Palestine and lost at least 20 of her family members in Gaza from Israeli bombardment.
Trova asked what final message we wanted to get out, and we said that while this is a global issue, we see how our United States Government is treating Brown people in Palestine, at a very shocking level by allowing this to happen and is in part funding it, and that translates back here to our local communities. Systems aren’t broken, they are working as designed. Those systems need to change.
Elizabeth, NJ Is Location For Protest Against Zim Shipping Company On A15 Economic Blockade Day
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Photo Credit: Alexa B. Wilkinson
Editor’s Note: Formerly Beacon-based now Newburgh-based photographer Alexa B. Wilkinson documented and reported on the vehicle protest against Zim shipping Company today on this A15 Economic Blockade day. All photographs by Alexa B. Wilkinson.
Wrote Alexa:
“As part of the @a15actions, early this morning in Elizabeth, NJ Port Workers For Peace with @nyclaborforpalestine and @palawda led a caravan of vehicles through the Port of New Jersey to denounce the Zim shipping company’s support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Zim CEO Eli Glickman has pledged that his ships will assist Israel’s campaign, even as it leads to mass starvation and the killing of over 17,000 children.
Photo Credit: Alexa B. Wilkinson
“Many port workers are horrified at what’s happening in Gaza,” said Chino May, one of the caravan organizers. “Our labor is being exploited to enrich corporations that uphold mass murder. But we make these companies go, so we can make them listen to us. The killing has to stop.”
“The caravan received mostly honks of support and a few agitated truck drivers. Police flanked the lead car and the group, and at some points attempted to break the line of cars up by merging in between them. At one point the port authority police asked how long they would be there and if there were more coming, to which the police received one word answers and vague responses.
“As we see global action taking place today across thousands of cities and economic choke points, the news will be flooded with Trump and Iran…don’t take your eye off the ball. This is focal point. All eyes on Gaza.”
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Shutdown During National A15 Economic Blockade For A Free Palestine
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The Newburgh/Beacon Bridge was shut down today, April 15, 2024, at 8am in coordination with at least 65 other cities across the United States who designated April 15th Tax Day to be A15 Economic Blockade to Free Palestine. Organized by a15actions, the mission states: “75 years and 182 days into this US backed genocide we must take collective risk beyond symbolic acts of solidarity. On April 15th, we will block logistical hubs to stop the flow of capital worldwide. This is just the beginning. We will not cooperate with the police. If a blockade in one city faces repression, we will respond in solidarity in other cities. Join us in organizing towards our collective liberation.” See the shutdown in Oakland, CA, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Texts from a reader showing Local radio station K104 was Reporting on Sheriff messages about terrorism, and not about the cause of the shutdown, which was A15 Economic Blockade for a Free Palestine.
@HV4FreePalestine was the first to cover the true nature of this blockade. The radio station K104 focused on parroting messages from Sheriff Offices like Putnam County, to perpetuate fear via the terrorist narrative that this country has accepted as normal with anything related to “the Middle East.”
Reported HV4FreePalestine:
“This morning at 8am, over a dozen Palestinians, Jews and allies blockaded the westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon bridge for over an hour, stopping traffic on I-84 for miles at the peak of rush hour. The action, part of the April 15 Economic Blockade for Palestine taking place in 65 cities across the globe, ended at 9am with 15 arrests.
“Organizer Abdallah Qotate states: ‘As a Palestinian, I wake up everyday worrying whether my best friend in Gaza will live to see another day. I’m forced to be in the street because our elected government refuses to listen to us. How many Palestinians have to die before our government will stop sending our tax dollars to Israel to fund this genocide?’
“As a Palestinian, I wake up everyday worrying whether my best friend in Gaza will live to see another day. I’m forced to be in the street because our elected government refuses to listen to us. How many Palestinians have to die before our government will stop sending our tax dollars to Israel to fund this genocide?”
In a non-violent act of civil disobedience, protestors highlighted the federal government and US economy’s role in Israel's genocidal siege against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Activists blocked all westbound lanes of traffic on the bridge for nearly one hour, amidst the busiest time on the bridge, over which 65,000 commuters and 6012 transport trucks travel daily.
During the protest, New York State Police assaulted, pushed and threatened peaceful demonstrators with a baton. In a tweet removed later, the New York Department of Transport for the Hudson Valley reported that as of 8:44am, one lane remained closed during police intervention.
Shutting down a key artery of commerce and commuter transport during one of the busiest hours of morning traffic, demonstrators were part of a global movement shutting down commerce to end the genocide.
“During the protest, New York State Police assaulted, pushed and threatened peaceful demonstrators with a baton.”
Grace Collins, one of the participants, concludes “Months of pleading to my representatives has not slowed the genocide in Palestine. Disrupting traffic to get our message across is a natural next step. If the constituents wont be heard through government channels then we will get our message across in nonviolent ways however we can.”
“From the Hudson Valley organizers: ‘Tax Day is a reminder that the Biden administration has made over 100 transfers of taxpayer dollars in military assistance to Israel since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. We refuse to allow business as usual to continue while Palestinians are murdered by Israel using American weaponry and tax dollars. Those committed to Palestinian freedom in the Hudson Valley have tried many tactics—we’ve demonstrated, we’ve lobbied our representatives, Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro, for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, we’ve visited their offices, we’ve educated the public. Those on the highway today are done waiting on congressional representatives. We are committed to keeping up the pressure until the genocide ends and Palestine is free.”
Citizen Reporter @bryanne_af reported that she was happy to learn she had been stuck in traffic for a cause during her Kid School Drop-off morning, telling her Instagram friends: “Hudson Valley shut down the westbound Newburgh Beacon bridge for Palestine today!!! 😭🇵🇸😭 I had no idea what was going on and had to drive over an hour to get home from dropping my kids off to school - so happy and proud to discover it was comrades doing worthy and noble work! So very thankful for their bravery and that I got to bear witness to the incredible impact they had on the Hudson Valley this morning - the blockade here went for six miles beyond the bridge, toward Fishkill [down 9D passing Stonykill Farm and the Heritage Financial Stadium] - if this inconvenienced you, just IMAGINE how Gaza suffers from what our tax dollars are doing in blocking their food, their medicine, their freedom to live! From the river to the sea!!! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
Another reader, Citizen Reporter Cowboy, responded to the news of the shutdown by telling ALBB: “I gotta go check Whacker Wire to see if my Mom was arrested today.” Their mom has been arrested 4 times during this extermination of Palestine, including once at Grand Central Station.
Banners Banned and Grounded On Main Street - No Hanging Banners
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After years and years of banners hanging across Main Street, both organizations, I Am Beacon and the Spirit of Beacon Day were denied permission in 2022 to hang promotional banners across Main Street. Banners serve several purposes, including income to the City with a permit fee, income to organizations for sponsor logo placement on the high-visibility banners, and good old fashioned IRL (In Real Life) promotion for people when they aren’t lost looking in their phones.
The Spirit of Beacon Day raised theirs to the roof of Key Food. The Masjid Ar Rashid Mosque was also denied permission to hang their yearly banner celebrating Eid, the end of Ramadan. Their banner now hangs on the front gate of the Mosque. The Parade of Green was also denied hanging their banner, so theirs was grounded this year in the grassy area at Cross Street and Main Street.
In July 2022, City Administrator Chris White confirmed to the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee via email: “We no longer accept applications for banners on Main Street so you won’t be able to install one. The prior Administrator stopped issuing permits for banners after staff raised concern about safety after several of them broke and got loose into the traffic lanes of Main Street. We were also getting pressure from certain religious organizations about putting up religious banners so rather than try to navigate complex free speech issues, the prior Administrator just stopped issuing permits. I have continued this policy and have not accepted applications during my tenure here.”
The former City Administrator at that time was Anthony Ruggiero, who served under Mayor Randy Casale, who served 2 terms as Mayor and was Beacon’s Highway Superintendent for 16 years. During those years, banners were hung to promote goings on around town. Currently, the Highway Superintendent (titled Superintendent of Streets in Beacon) is Michael (Micki) Manzi. It is not known what Micki’s techniques are for hanging the banners, that may have differed from former Mayor and Highway Superintendent Randy.
Said Lesly Deschler Canossi via ALBB’s Instagram: “They used to allow Ree Play Sale years ago. I thought it was helpful.”
The Beacon Library also chimed in: “We requested in 2022 for the library’s anniversary and were told it was because of Central Hudson.” ALBB is currently following up on the Central Hudson reasoning.
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Present Artist Practice: A Workshop Series
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The Eclipse April 2024 As Viewed In Ohio's 100% Totality and In Beacon, Plus A Poem From Inside The Totality
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The eclipse in 100% Totality in Ohio, during the 3 minutes of total coverage, when all went dark, except for the red glow down below. We could look up at the moon covering the sun 100% at this point.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
The eclipse of April 2024 as seen from Mount Beacon.
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
Drove away to Ohio to experience the eclipse in 100% totality there from a farm. Which turned out to be ideal, as the wide open space allowed for us to see the red glow happening down low above the ground. View that in the video below, which was taken inside of the 3 minutes of total moon coverage, where we could safely look up without eclipse glasses on to stare directly at the moon with the sun glowing around it. We could see one sun flare in the bottom left corner, peeking out from the moon.
Was able to capture the color in an iPhone video, and tried to translate into a poem below (it’s still rough…but for timing…has been published).
The Beacon-based photographer Meghan Spiro captured the eclipse color in Beacon from a side of Mount Beacon. Her spit-screen photo is shown here.
Eclipse Poem
Total Totality
From inside the eclipse
In Total Totality
The 3 minutes of total moon coverage began.
The dome came over us.
A silver dome of protection
Shooting out of the dark light.
Touching the grass
The weightless silver holding.
Shadows gone.
Like we were all dead,
Our lives held in dark white light,
Our passions pouring into the dark depth above us.
Where are we?
“Mommy! Take a picture of the sunset! Take a picture of the sunset and send it to me!”
Sunset?
But the sun is above us.
But the sun is black.
But the set is aligned with us.
We are surrounded by a lasso of red glow.
The sun has stretched around us.
The moon has spilled over us.
Pouring out the silver light,
The dark air curling around our bones
Clutching our skin.
The crows climb the wind.
Is there wind?
All is still.
The light slipped into gray.
The ground turned silver, a mirror of the sky
The shadows inking black.
Silver all around us.
“Look up!! You can look up!!!”
White light
Shooting out of the smooth circle of the black depth.
Sends the weightless dome of protection.
Protection from what?
Protection inside.
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The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
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